Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 22, 2015–Lars Petersen the Danish rider based in Florida gave an early birthday present to the owner of Mariett by winning the World Cup Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival Thursday.

Spain’s José Daniel Martín Dockx, competing Grandioso for the first Big Tour for the pair in the United States and the first American competition for the Spanish stallion since Courtney King-Dye’s accident placed second.

Lars and the 17-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Come Back II x Sidney) scored 73.220 per cent with Dani Dockx and Grandioso on 72.360 per cent and the USA’s Shelly Francis of Loxahatchee, Florida on Doktor third on 72.200 per cent.

The placings by the judges varied widely–Lare and Mariett were placed second by four judges and first by one, Dani Dockx and Grandioso were awarded first by two judges, fourth by two judges and fifth by one judge while Shelly was put into third place by three judges, first place by one and seventh place by another.

Mariett is the miracle mare who tore off a hoof and was being slowly rehabilitated but owner Marcia Pepper decided she wanted Lars to compete the horse if she ever returned to showing.

In 2014, Lars and Mariett were the top money winner on the Global circuit, won the World Cup North American League and was on Denmark’s team at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

This was only their second international event since the World Games–they won the first World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle qualifier in the first show two weeks ago that could put them on track to go to the World Cup Final in Las Vegas in mid-April.

The win in Thursday’s Grand Prix came a day before Marcia’s 62nd birthday.

“Of course, I’m proud to win,” Lars said, “but what I’m most proud of is having a horse 17 years old that is fresh and getting better–and maybe I’m getting better at riding her. That means something.

“My dad always told me to learn from people horses get old. The art is not making a Grand Prix horse but making a Grand Prix horse last.

“We have a responsibility to the horse. It’s something I’m really proud of.”

Dani admitted that he was nervous and feeling the pressure a little before the ride on Grandioso that was the first ever for the pair who rode for Spain at the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

The last last time the horse competed in the United States was five years ago when Courtney King-Dye was days away from starting in their first national Grand Prix when she came off a young horse she was training in an accident that stunned the horse community around the world and led to changes in safety helmet rules.

Wellington is also home of Hampton Green Farms, along with Fruitport, Michigan, where Kim Boyer is based for the winter.

“My sponsor and a lot of other people were excited to see Grandioso,” he said.

“I’m very happy with the result. The horse made a really clean test; little mistakes but nothing really bad.

“In the beginning I was a little nervous but after the half passes I was riding like normal, very strong in the small details.”

The scores were slightly lower than the mid-70 per cent results the pair were getting in Europe last summer, but awards from the European judges were in line with last year

Results: